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      Dharma: taking action for the wellbeing of the world

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how some Hindus are taking action to help save the planet.

      Key learning points

      1. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says ‘act for the welfare of the world, you must take action’.
      2. Many Hindus today are taking action to help save the planet.
      3. Hindu Climate Action is a group of Hindu volunteers that tries to encourage Hindus to take action.
      4. Hindus are adapting and changing their practices to reflect the state of the planet.

      Keywords

      • Krishna - a deity that represents God for many Hindus

      • Bhagavad Gita - a Hindu text that reflects on dharma

      • Dharma - acting with love and compassion for all beings

      Common misconception

      Hindus focus on devotion to deities rather than practical action.

      Many Hindus are deeply concerned for the planet and are taking action to make a difference.

      Teacher tip

      You might like to explore further the work of Hindu Climate Action. Also you could see if any local mandirs (if you have any) are working to make a change.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which symbol is often used to represent Hinduism?

      crescent moon
      a set of circles
      Correct answer: Om (Aum)

      Q2.
      What does dharma mean in Hinduism?

      making money to give away
      Correct answer: acting with love and compassion
      going to school every day

      Q3.
      What is a key Hindu text that teaches about dharma?

      the Bible
      Correct answer: the Bhagavad Gita
      the Qur'an

      Q4.
      Where do many Hindus go to worship?

      Correct answer: temple (mandir)
      church
      mosque

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Match each keyword to its meaning.

      Correct Answer:Krishna,a deity that represents God for many Hindus
      Correct Answer:Bhagavad Gita,a Hindu text that reflects on dharma
      Correct Answer:dharma,acting with love and compassion for all beings

      Q2.
      Put the events of the story of Govardhan Mountain into the correct order.

      1 - Villagers used to pray to Indra for rain.
      2 - Krishna told the villagers to honour the Earth.
      3 - Indra sent heavy rain.
      4 - Krishna lifted the mountain to shelter everyone.

      Q3.
      Hindus focus only on prayer and do not take action to help the Earth.

      True – Hindus only care about rituals and deities.
      False – Hindus believe the Earth is not important.
      Correct answer: False – many Hindus take action to protect the planet.

      Q4.
      What does Krishna teach about dharma in the Bhagavad Gita?

      Correct answer: to help the world
      do nothing and wait for others
      only pray to the deities

      To help you plan your 4 religious education lesson on: Dharma: taking action for the wellbeing of the world, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...